Manual console cigarette merchandising machine



Oct. 16, 1962 M. KRAKAUER ETAL 3,053,613

MANUAL CONSOLE CIGARETTE MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet l My hi? INVENTORS Mam/u Kmmuee \T HA/ JT AWE/2055 Oct. 16, 1962 M. KRAKAUER ETAL 3,058,613

MANUAL CONSOLE CIGARETTE MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 30-; l4 NJ 0 55 INVENTORS M MEp /LL ken/640E? Q A ORNEY Oct. 16, 1962 M. KRAKAUER ETAL 3,053,613

MANUAL CONSOLE CIGARETTE MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed March 15. 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 r e a 5 205 20 r76 I A244 Z/ g 50 i s r: 72

MERE/LL ma mas/q A ORNEY 3,058,613 MANUAL CONSOLE CIGARETTE MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed March 15. 1959 Oct. 16, 1962 -M. KRAKAUER ETAL 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 u Qwm e Q a? H n (s. T H M N N EH R u 5 wk o n NAT n m l h m MN W ll 4 PH,

n l\ \\m com a m 0% NM Em www m Mom. m

M 0 man 4 Q 2 Oct. 16, 1962 M. KRAKAUER ETAL 3,058,513

' MANUAL CONSOLE CIGARETTE MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed March 15, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet s- INVENTORS MERE/L1. (Rn/aqua? 7g \77 AME/Pose LSQQQ TTORNEY Oct. 16, 1962 M. KRAKAUER ETAL 3,058,613

MANUAL CONSOLE CIGARETTE MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed March 15, 1959 10 Shets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR MERE/LL lam ua? RNEY Oct. 16, 1962 M. KRAKAUER ETAL 3,058,613

MANUAL CONSOLE CIGARETTE MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed March 13. 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 PJ-E LU INVENTOR5 15o MERE/LL KIPHKHUEQ \T'OH/V 7 H/WB/EOSE TTORNEY MANUAL CONSOLE CIGARETTE MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed March 13. 1959 1962 M. KRAKAUER ETAL 10 SheetsSheet 9 INVENTORS MERE/LL Ke /muse N J. HMBROSE A ORNEY Oct. 16, 1962 M. KRAKAUER ETAL 3,058,613

MANUAL CONSOLE CIGARETTE MERCHANDISING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet-l0 Filed March 15. 1959 ORNEY United States Patent York Filed Mar. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 799,261 17 Claims. (Cl. 221-6) Our invention relates to a manual, console, cigarettemerchandising machine and more particularly to an improved manual, console, cigarette-merchandising machine having a large capacity for a variety of brands of cigarettes.

The outstanding requirements for present-day cigarette-merchandising machines is that they be capable of dispensing a great number of different brands and different varieties of cigarettes. At the same time it is necessary that the machine have a large capacity so that it need not be serviced at such frequent intervals as to make its operation uneconomical. The great number of selections and the large capacity should not result in a machine having a size which prevents its installation in many desirable locations. Electrical power is not available at many locations in which it is desirable to install a cigarette-merchandising machine.

We have invented a manual, console, cigarette-merchandising machine which affords a large selection of different brands and various types of cigarettes. Our machine can store a great quantity of cigarettes with the result that it need not be serviced so frequently as to make its operation uneconom-ical. We make eificient use of the space enclosed by the machine cabinet With the result that we achieve a large capacity and provide a great number of selections for the size of our machine. We construct our dispensing mechanism to provide a low machine which can be installed in locations which were not available to high machines of the prior art. Our machine is entirely manual in operation to permit it to be installed in locations at which electrical power is not available.

One object of our invention is to provide a manual console cigarette mechandising machine which has a large capacity and which dispenses a great number of different brands and various type of cigarettes.

Another object of our invention is to provide a manual, console, cigarettemerchandising machine which efficiently utilizes the available space to provide a relatively large capacity and a great variety of selections for the size of the machine cabinet.

A further object of our invention is to provide a manual, console, cigarette-merchandising machine having a dispensing mechanism arranged to provide a low machine which can be installed in locations which are unsuitable for high machines of the prior art.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a manual, console, cigarette-merchandising machine, the operation of which is entirely manual so that it can be installed in locations at which electrical power is not available.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description:

In general, our invention contemplates the provision of a manual console merchandising machine including respective front and rear rows of columnar merchandise containers, each adapted to contain a supply of articles of merchandise such, for example, as packages of cigarettes. We mount respective carriages for movement below the rows of containers. Each carriage supports a plurality of ejectors associated with the respective containers of the row corresponding to the carrier. We provide our machine with respect selector buttons adapted to be man- 3,058,613 Patented Oct. 16, 1962 "ice ually actuated to raise one and only one of the ejectors at a time to an operative position from its normally inoperative position. Ou machine includes coin-released, manually-operable means for driving the carriages with a delivery and with a return stroke to cause the operative ejector to deliver a selected article of merchandise to the customer.

We construct our machine to permit a customer to change his selection at any time prior to the time the actual dispensing operation commences under the action of the manually-operable means, but not thereafter. The manually-operable, delivery means of our machine is locked against operation in the event that the dispensing mechanism jams. We accomplish this result while avoiding the danger of damage to the machine. A simple structure responsive to the actuation of the manuallyoperable, delivery means dispenses a packet of matches concomitantly with a package of cigarettes. When the supply of a selected article is exhausted, no matches are dispensed and an indicator informs the customer that the supply of articles is exhausted.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of our manual, console, cigarette-merchandising machine.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of our manual, con sole, cigarette-merchandising machine with the cabinet door open to expose the operating mechanism of the machine.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of our manual console cigarette-merchandising machine taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of our manual console cigarette-merchandising machine taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the selecting mechanism of our manual console cigarette-merchandising machine taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 4 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the selecting mechanism of our manual console cigarette-merchandising machine taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of our manual console cigarette-merchandising machine taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 4 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of our manual console cigarette-merchandising machine taken along the line 8-8of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of our manual console cigarette-merchandising machine with parts removed taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 1 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of an alternate form of actuating means of our manual console cigarette-merchandising machine.

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of an alternate form of selecting rod drive means of our manual console cigarette-merchandising machine.

FIGURE 12 is a side elevation of the form of selecting means drive means shown in FIGURE 11 with parts removed and with other parts broken away. 1

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view of the form of selecting means coupling means shown in FIGURE 11 taken along the line 1313 of FIGURE 11.

More particularly referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, our manual console cigarette-merchandising machine includes a cabinet indicated generally by the reference character having a body provided with sides 12 and 14 and a top 16, all supported on a. base 18. A hinge supports the cabinet door 22 for movement from the closed position shown in FIGURE 1 to the open position shown in FIGURE 2. The top 16 of the cabinet supports a plurality of selector buttons 24, the function of which will be explained in detail hereinafter. A shaft 25 carried by the door 22 pivotally supports an operating lever 26 which extends through a slot 28 formed in a recess 30 in the cabinet door. The end of lever 26 extending outboard of the door 22 supports a pull-handle 32.

We form the door 22 with an elongated opening 34 to permit access to the delivery tray 36 of the machine. A coin return opening 38 formed in the door 22 adjacent the opening 34 permits coins to be returned to the customer in the event, for example, that the supply of the articles of merchandise he desires is exhausted.

A bracket 40 forms a part of a framework making up the front and shift columnar containers of our manual, console, merchandising machine. We swingably support this assembly on a hinge pin 42 to p rmit the front and shift column container assembly to be swung outwardly of the machine to provide access to the rear columnar containers to be described hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, we secure a plurality of spaced rearwardly extending partitions 44 to the bracket 40. Respective pins 46 carried by the partitions 44 pivotally support respective elongated depending guides 48 which divide the space between adjacent partitions into respective front columnar containers, indicated generally by the reference characters 50 and rear columnar containers, indicated generally by the reference character 52. A rod 54 supported by and extending across all the panels 44 supports a plurality of respective shift container front walls 56. Springs 58 disposed between the bracket 40 and the walls 56 normally urge the walls to move in a direction to shift articles from the shift containers 52 into the front containers 50. One end of a retaining lever 41, pivotally supported under a columnar container 52 on a shaft 43, normally engages a lug on the lower end of the wall 56 to hold the wall against the action of the spring. A pin 47 on the other end of the lever 41 pivotally supports a member having a pair of arms 49 and 51. Owing to its greater mass arm 49 normally urges the member to pivot in a counterclockwise direction. If the supply of articles in the container 50 is above a predetermined level an article engages the arm 51 to pivot the member in a clockwise direction to the position shown in FIGURE 4 against the action of arm 49. We pivotally mount a V-shaped member 53, having legs 55 and 57, extending across the machine below the columnar containers 52, for movement about the axis of its leg 55. This member 53 is rotated in a clockwise direction by the match delivery mechanism, to be described hereinafter, on each operation of the machine. If the supply of articles in any columnar container falls below a predetermined level, leg 57 engages arm 49 to pivot lever 41 in a counterclockwise direction to release the associated wall 56 to permit spring 58 to move the wall to shift articles from container 52 into the associated container 50. We form the rear edge of each of the partitions 44 with lateral flanges 60. We form the bottom edges of the partitions 44 below all columns 50 with lateral flanges 62. The flanges 60 and 62 retain the articles of merchandise in the columnar containers 50. As can be seen by reference to FIGURE 4, we so cut the partitions 44 that the containers 50 extend below the level of the containers 5-2. We form the bottom edges of the partitions 44 below the containers 52 with lateral flanges 64 for retaining article of merchandise in the shift containers 52.

We secure respective brackets 66 and 68 to the back 70 of the machine by any convenient means such as screws 72 or the like. We weld or otherwise secure a rear-container back panel 74 to the brackets 66 and 68. A plurality of partitions 76 secured by any convenient means to the back panel 74 form a plurality of rear columnar containers 78. We form lateral flanges 80 on the front edges of partitions 76 and we form flanges 82 on the bottoms of partitions 76 to retain articles of merchandise within the rear containers 78.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, respective bearing support panels 84 and 86 supported within the machine cabinet by any suitable means pivotally support respective shafts 8S and 89. We rotatably mount respective arms 90 and 92 on the shafts 88. The upper ends of the arms 90 and 92 support a carriage, indicated generally by the reference character 94, extending between the arms. This carriage 94 carries a number of ejector assemblies associated with the respective front containers 50 of the machine.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4, 7, and 8, a pivot shaft 96 extending between the sides 98 of the carriage, one of which sides is shown in FIGURE 4, pivotally supports a plurality of ejectors 100. Each ejector 100 is formed with an upstanding pusher 102 adapted to be raised in the manner to be described hereinafter from its normally inoperative position to a position at which it may push an article of merchandise out of its associated container.

We provide our machine with a rear carriage indicated generally by the reference character 104 associated with the rear containers 78 of the machine. Respective pairs of rollers 106 and .168 and 110 and 112 supported by the carriage 104 ride in respective arcuate tracks 114 and 116 formed in panels 84 and 86 to guide the carriage 104 in its movement. Respective links 118, one of which is shown in FIGURE 4, connect the carriage 104 to the carriage 94. When the arms 90 and 92 are oscillated in a manner to be described hereinafter, carriage 104 moves below the rear columnar containers 78 as the carriage 74 moves below the front columnar containers. A pivot shaft 120 supported on carrier 104 carries a plurality of respective ejectors 122 associated with the rear containers 78 for movement from their normally inoperative positions to operative positions at which upstanding pushers 124 are adapted to push articles of merchandise out of the rear containers as the carriage 104 moves below the containers.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, we provide means responsive to a manual operation of the pull handle 32 for oscillating arms 90 and 92. When pull handle 32 is actuated to pivot lever 126 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 about its pivot shaft 126, a pin 128 in engagement with the bifurcated end 130 of an arm 134 supported on a fixed pivot shaft 136 moves the arm in a clockwise direction as viewed in the figure. A spring 138 connects the arm 134 to a follow-through arm 140 pivotally supported on shaft 136. We form the end of arm 140 with ratchet teeth 142 adapted to engage a pawl 144 supported on a pivot pin 146 carried by plate 84. A spring 148 normally positions the pawl 144 to permit arm 140 to make a full stroke to move all the teeth 142 past the pawl 144 in either direction of movement of the arm. Once the arm begins to move the teeth 142 past the pawl in one direction, the direction of movement of the arm cannot be reversed until all the teeth pass the pawl. This action prevents a customer from changing his mind once an actual delivery operation has been started.

From the foregoing descriptions, it will be seen that as lever 26 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, arm 134 is driven in a clockwise direction. Spring 138 then pulls the follow-through arm 140 to rotate the arm in a clockwise direction. A pin 150 connects one end of a link 152 to the follow-through arm 140. A pin 154 on the end of link 152 remote from pin 150 rides in a slot 156 formed in one arm 158 of a crank plate 160 pivotally supported by a hub 162 on shaft 88. A second arm 164 on the plate 160 engages a crank rod 166 which is carried by the lower ends of arms 90 and 92. A spring 168 secured at one end to a pin 170 on plate 84 and secured at its other end to arm 158 normally biases crank plate 160 in a clockwise direction to position carriages 94 and 104 in the positions shown in FIGURE 4. It will be seen that as the follow-through arm 140 rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3, link 152 moves crank plate 160 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 to move the arms 90 and 92 and carriages 94 and 104 first forwardly and then rearwardly of the containers 50 and 78, as arm 140 returns.

Our machine includes a locking link 172 for locking lever 126 in the event that a carriage is for any reason jammed. The link 172 normally rests by means of a slot .174 formed in the link on a pin 176 carried by the arm 140. Teeth 178 formed on the upper edge of the link 172 are adapted to engage a bracket 180 secured to plate 84 by means such as a rivet 182 in the event the dispensing mechanism is for any reason jammed. A pin 184 carried by arm 134 intermediate its length connects the arm to the end of link 172 remote from teeth 178. When in the course of a dispensing operation, handle 32 is operated to pivot arm 134 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3, arm 140 tends to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 under the action of spring 138. If the operating mechanism is free, pin 184 causes link 172 to move with arm 140. When this occurs, the end of link 172 carrying teeth 178 moves in the direction of the arrow A in FIGURE 3 to cause teeth 178 to clear stop 180. If, however, the dispensing mechanism jams, follow-through arm 140 will not move, but link 172 starts to move under the influence of pin 184. Spring 138 permits this relative motion between link 172 and arm 148. When arm 140 and link 162 move relative to each other in the manner described, the slot 174 rides on pin 176 to pivot arm 172 slightly upwardly around pin 184 as viewed in FIGURE 3 to cause a tooth 178 to engage stop 180. The engagement of a tooth 178 with stop 180 provides an extremely rugged lock for preventing further operation of handle 32 without damage to the dispensing mechanism of the machine. In order to prevent any sudden operations of handle 32 from causing the locking link 172 to operate when the dispensing mechanism is not jammed, we connect the piston rod 186 of a dashpot 188 swingably mounted on a pin 190 on plate 84 to the pin 184.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 3, our machine includes a coin register 192 of a type known in the art into which coins may be deposited through a slot 194 in the top of the machine cabinet. The register 192 includes a locking pin 196 which normally prevents movement of link 152 under the action of arm 140 in response to operation of handle 32. As will be explained hereinafter, when a sum in coins aggregating the purchase price of a selected article has been deposited in the machine, pin 196 is freed to permit operation of the delivery mechamsm.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 to 6, our machine includes a plurality of push buttons 24 associated with the respective front and rear containers of the machine. Each button 24 is slidably supported in an opening 198 formed in support 200 extending across the front of the machine at the top of the cabinet 10. A rod 202 secured to the button for movement therewith extends through an annular bearing 204 formed in an offset end 206 of a push rod 208 slidably supported in a bracket 210 extending between the sides of the machine. Rod 202 extends through and is slidably supported in a flange 212 formed on the bracket 210. A conical coil spring 214 bears between the end 206 of rod 208 and the base of a recess 216 formed in the button 24. Respective springs 209 extending between pins 211 on rods 208 and pins 213 on the bracket 210 normally urge the rods to inoperative position. It is to be understood that as many of the buttons 24 as there are rear containers 78 are associated with the rear containers. Similarly, as many buttons 24 as there are front containers 50 are associated with the front containers 50.

We pivotally connect the end of a rod 208 associated with a front container to one arm 218 of a bell crank pivotally supported on a shaft 220 extending across the machine. This may be accomplished by any convenient means such as a pivot pin 222 connecting the end of rod 208 remote from the offset 206 to the arm 218. A pin 224 pivotally connects the other arm 226 of a front container bell crank to a lifter 228 which extends downwardly betwen the front and rear containers to an ejector associated with a front container 50. We form each pusher 102 associated with an ejector 100 with an opening 230 through which a finger 232 formed on the lower end of a lifter 228 extends. From the structure thus far described, it will be seen that when button 224 associated with a front container is pushed, the spring 214 drives the corresponding push rod 208 to the right as viewed in FIGURES 4 and 6. When this occurs, the rod pivots the bell crank having arms 218 and 226 in a clockwise direction as viewed in the figures. When this occurs, arm 226 pulls lifter 228 upwardly to cause the finger 232 to pivot the ejector 100 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 4 about the pivot shaft 96 to a position at which it may move into a container as the carriage 94 moves forwardly to push a package of cigaret- .tes out of the container.

A pin 234 pivotally connects a rod 208 associated with a rear container 78 to one arm 236 of a bell crank pivotally supported on a fixed shaft 238 extending across the machine over the rear containers 78. Pin 240 pivotally connects the other arm 242 of the bell crank having the arm 236 to a lifter 244 associated with a rear container 78. As can be seen by reference to FIGURES 4, 7 and 8, we form each lifter 244 with a finger 246 at its lower end. Each finger 246 extends through an opening 248 formed in the pusher 124 of the ejector 122 associated with a rear container. It will be apparent that when a button corresponding to a rear container is pushed, the associated spring 214 moves the rod 208 to the right as viewed in FIGURES 4 and 6 to move lifter 244 upwardly to cause the finger 246 to pivot the ejector 122 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 4 to position the pusher in its operative position at which it may move into a container 78 to push a package of cigarettes out of the container when the carriage 104 moves forwardly under the container in the course of a dispensing operation.

Weprovide our machine with means for locking an actuated button in its operative position to permit handle 32 to be operated to dispense an article of merchandise.

We dispose a plurality of washers 25 in side-by-side relationship on the upper surface of bracket 210. Respective retainers 252 carried by the bracket 210 and a backing rail 254 constrain the washers 250 for movement laterally of the machine. A pair of stops 256, one of .Which is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, limit the lateral Respective pins 260 and 262 support a latch plate 264 V for lateral sliding movement on the bracket 210. The pins 260 and 262 are disposed in respective slots 266 and 268 in the plate 264. Plate 264 carries a depending pin 270 disposed in a slot 272 formed in a drive link 274 guided for movement in the direction of the arrow B in FIGURE 5 by a pin 276 carried by bracket 2'10 and disposed in slot 272. A spring 278 extending between a pin 280 on plate 264 and a pin 282 on bracket 210 normally urges plate 264 to the right as viewed in FIGURE to urge pin 270 against the edge of slot 272.

We form plate 264 With a plurality of slots 284 and form the plate with a number of hooks 286- at the entrances of the respective slots 284. Each bar 208 has :1 depending lug 288. When a button 24 is operated to move its associated rod 208, its lug 288 engages a hook 286 to cam plate 264 to the left as viewed in FIGURE 5 against the action of spring 278. When the lug passes the hook, the latch plate returns to its initial position to hold down the actuated button and retain the parts associated with the button in their operative position. It is to be noted that in the course of this operation, pin 270 is disposed in an enlarged portion 290 of slot 272 to permit this movement of plate 264.

We arrange our machine to permit a customer to change his selection at any time before the actual dispensing operation begins when handle 32 is operated but not thereafter. Should a customer actuate one button and then change his mind by actuating a second button, the lug 288 on the rod 208 associated with the second but ton moves plate 264 to the left to permit the rod 208 associated with the first push button to snap back to its initial position under the influence of spring 209. It is to be noted that the lug 288 engages a hook 286 to move plate 264 to the left before the spreader 258 on the second rod enters between a pair of adjacent washers 250. That is, our interlock including Washers 250 is arranged to permit a customer to change his mind.

We connect the end of locking link 274 remote from slot 272 to a crank plate 292 by means of a pin 294 carried by an upstanding portion 296 on the end of link 274. Pin 294 is disposed in a slot 298 formed in plate 292. We pivotally support plate 292 on shaft 220.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 5, and 6, we mount a link 300 on the pin 176 on arm 140 and connect the end of link 300 remote from arm 140 to plate 292 by means of a pin 302. When in the course of a dispensing operation, arm 140 pivots in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3, pin 176 pushes link 300 upwardly as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 6 to rotate crank 292 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 6 to move the locking link 274 in the direction of the arrow B. When this occurs, a relatively narrower portion 304 of slot 272 passes pin 270. With the pin 270 in this portion of the slot, the customer can no longer change his selection, since plate 264 is restrained against movement to the left as Viewed in FIGURE 5 by locking link 274. Upon continued rotation of arm 140 and after delivery of an article has begun so that no other pushers can be raised to operative position, an oblique portion 306 of slot 272 engages pin 270 to cam plate 264 to the left as viewed in FIGURE 5 to release the lug 288 of the actuated push button to permit the button and its associated pusher assembly to return to its initial position under the action of spring 209.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, we provide our machine with a vend flap assembly including respective stub shafts 308 pivotally carried by the side panels of the machine which support respective arms 310 for rotation with the shafts. The arms 310 carry a vend flap bar 312 extending across the front of the front containers 50 in a position to be actuated by any package being dispensed from the front columns. Respective stub shafts 314 pivotally carried by the side panels of the machine support respective arms 316, for rotation with the shafts, which carry a rear vend flap bar 318 extending across the front of the rear containers 78 in a position to be actuated by any package being dispensed from a rear container of the machine. The shaft 314 carried by the panel 84 extends through the panel and supports a crank 320 for rotation with the shaft outboard of the panel. The arm 310 carried by the shaft 308 in the panel 84 has an offset lug 322 which extends through an opening 324 in the panel 84. Lug 322 is adapted to engage a lug 326 formed on one end of a link 328, the other end of which is connected to crank 320 by a pin 330. It will be apparent that when a package being dispensed from a front container actuates the vend flap to pivot arms 310, lug 322 engages lug 326 to move link 328 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 3. Similarly, when a package being dispensed from a rear container actuates bar 318 to pivot arms 316 and shafts 314, crank 320 pivots to move link 328 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 3. A pin 332 pivotally connects link 328 at a point intermediate its length to one arm 334 of a bell crank rotatably supported on a fixed pivot shaft 336 carried by panel 84. A spring 338 normally urges the bell crank to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3. When link 328 moves to the right in the manner described hereinabove when a vend flap operates, it moves arm 334 in a clockwise direction around the pivot 336. In order to permit this movement, the distances separating the respective pins 330 and 332 from the respective pivots 314 and 336 are the same and they lie along parallel lines. A spring 339 connects the end of rod 328 adjacent pin 330 to a second arm 340 of the bell crank including arm 334. A bracket 342 secured to plate 84 holds arm 340 against the plate 84. A pin 344 connects arm 340 to one end of a lifting rod 346, the other end of which rests in a slot 348 formed in a bracket 350 secured to plate 84. A screw or the like 352 secures a stop 354 to rod 346.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 9, our machine includes a match delivery mechanism actuating rod 356. A pin 358 carried by an arm 360 is disposed in a slot 362 formed in the rod 356. A pin 364 pivotally secures a coupling link 366 to the rod 356. We form link 366 with a slot 368 having an offset portion 370. Pin 358 extends through slot 362 and into the slot 368. We form the end of link 366 remote from pin 364 with an offset portion 372 which rests on the stop 354. When the handle 32 is operated in the manner described hereinabove to rotate crank plate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3, pin 358 moves in slot 362. With the portion 372 resting on stop 354 in the position of the parts shown in FIGURE 3, pin 358 moves along the slots 362 and 368 past the offset slot portion 370. When an article is delivered to cause a vend flap to operate in the manner described hereinabove, so that bell crank arm 334 rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3, the support rod 346 drops to lower stop 354 to move the offset slot portion 370 to a position in the path of pin 358. When pin 358 engages the end of portion 370, link 366 couples rod 356 to pin 358 to cause the rod to move to the left as viewed in FIGURE 3. When this occurs, a stop 374 carried by a bracket 376 secured to rod 356 actuates a pin 378 of the corn register to accept the money and to reset the register 1n a manner known to the art.

A pin 380 pivotally secures a pawl 382 to the end of rod 356. A spring 384 normally urges pawl 382 to a position at which a stop 386 on the pawl engages the upper edge of rod 356. When in the course of a delivery operation rod 356 moves to the left as viewed in FIG- URE 3, pawl 382 engages one of a number of pins 388 carried by a pin plate 390 secured to the shaft 392 of the match delivery mechanism indicated generally by the reference character 394 of our machine. This match mechanism is held in position by a latch 396 which engages a bracket 398 on the cigarette container structure of our machine. The match delivery mechanism 394 may be of any suitable type known to the art. For example, it may be of the type shown and described in copending application of Christian Gabrielsen, Serial No. 301,553, filed July 29, 1952, for a Match Vending Assembly, now Patent No. 2,923,434.

We provide our machine with means for indicating to the customer that the supply of articles of merchandise he desires is exhausted. If no article of merchandise is delivered when the operating handle 32 is actuated, no vend flap will operate and coupling link 366 will not drop to a position at which it connects pin 358 to bar 356. In this condition of the machine as pin 358 moves along slots 362 and 368, it engages a cam surface 400 formed on the underside of a lever 402 pivotally supported on bar 356 by means of a pin 404. The end of lever 482 remote from pin 404 carries a pin 486 disposed in a slot 408 formed in a crank 410 pivotally supported on a pin 412 carried by bar 356 When no vend flap operates so that pin 356 engages surface 400 to pivot lever 402 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 9, pin 406 pivots arm 410 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 9. We connect a push rod 414 between a lug 416 on arm 410- and a lu-g 418 formed on an empty signal lever 420 pivotally supported on a shaft 422. When push rod 414 moves upwardly it pivots lever 420 to move the empty signal indicator 424 to a position behind a window 426 in the top of the machine adjacent the row of buttons 24. In this position the flag 42,4 informs the customer that the supply of articles of merchandise he desires is exhausted. It is to be understood that when no vend flap operates, rod 356 is not actuated so that no matches are delivered to a customer and the coin accept mechanism does not operate.

The coin mechanism of our machine includes a price differential cam 48 pivotally supported on a shaft 43! A follower pin 432 carried by a price differential bar 434 indicated in phantom in FIGURE 3 is adapted to be actuated by cam plate 328 to position bar 434 in accordance with the diiference between the sale price of a selected article and the base price for which the machine is set. This price differential mechanism is shown in detail in the copending application Serial No. 520,263, filed July 6, 1955, by Christian Gabrielsen, for a Mechanical Coin Totalizer, now Patent No. 2,957,568. A crank arm 436 pivotally supported by a shaft 438 on the plate 84 has a bifurcated end 440 which engages a pin 442 on plate 428. A pin 444 pivotally connects crank mm 436 to one end of a price differential rod 446.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 6, a pin 448 connects the end of rod 446 remote from crank 436 to a crank 450 carried by a shaft 452 for rotation with the shaft. Any suitable means such as a block 454 secured to shaft 452 for rotation with the shaft carries a depending price differential finger 456. A pin 458 carried by a push rod 208 is adapted to engage the finger 456 as a push button is actuated to rotate shaft 452 to drive rod 446 through crank 450 to operate crank 436 to rotate crank plate 428. It is to be understood that the finger 456 may be so shaped as to provide a predeter mined amount of rotary displacement of plate 428'. We have indicated other fingers 460 and 462 in phantom in FIGURE 6. It is to be understood that if the article associated with a particular push button is to be sold at the base price for which the machine is set, no finger 456 need be associated with this button. Depending upon the price differential of the particular article corresponding to. a button, any one of the fingers 456, 460, or 462 may be associated with the button. Each of the fingers causes a rotation of plate 428 which positions pin 432 on one of the price differential. cam plate levels.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 8, we mount a leaf spring 464 within a bracket 68 by means of rivets 466 or the like. The spring 464 extends through an opening 468 in the back panel 74 to a position at which it may engage the package immediately above the package next to be dispensed. In its normal position spnng 464 permits the articles to fall downwardly under the influence of gravity. In the course of a selectingoperation when the lifter 244 moves upwardly, a roller 470 pivotally supported on a pin 472 on the lifter engages spring 10 464 to cam it inwardly of the container 78 into engagement with the next to lowermost package to hold all of the packages in the positions which they occupy until after the selecting mechanism is released when an article is delivered.

It will be remembered that the shift column 52 is urged to the right by spring 58. A pivoted latch or retaining lever 41 pivoted about shaft 43 engages the lug 45 of the shift column and normally holds it against shifting. Referring now to FIGURE 3, every time the match dispenser is actuated, a pin 388 on the disk 3% rotates the lever 391 in a counterclockwise direction against the action of spring 393. This lifts leg 57 of member 53 upwardly every time the match dispenser is operated. Normally, the leg 57 does not engage anything and the parts remain as shown in FIGURE 4. When, however, cigarettes in the column 50 fall below the lower end of arm 51, the member 49 will pivot in a counterclockwise direction, bringing its surface into the path of leg 57. When the match dispenser is now operated, the leg 57 will strike the member 49 which is carried on a pivot 47 which is in turn mounted on the retaining lever 41. This will cause retaining lever 41 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and move it from its retaining position, permitting the lower end of shift column 52 to move to the right and thus replenish cigarette packages being dispensed from the column 50.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, we secure a guard 474 to the front container assembly. This guard retains a package being dispensed in a position on top of the forward carriage until the return stroke or" the carriage.

Referring now to FIGURE 10, in an alternate form of our machine, arm 134 carries a pin 476 which pivotally supports a coupling link 478 formed with a slot 4-8tiwhich receives a pin 482 carried by the arm 140. A spring 484, extending between a pin 486 on link 4'78 and a pin 488 on arm 148, normally urges the link 478 to a position at which a shoulder 49% formed in slot 480 bears against the pin 482.

From the structure just described, it will be seen that, when in the course of a dispensing operation lever 26 pivots in a counterclockwise direction, arm 134 is driven in a clockwise direction. Spring 484 normally holds link 478 in the position shown in FIGURE 10 with suflicient force to provide a driving connection between arm 13.4 and arm 140. Thus, when lever 26 actuates arm 134, the arm 148 normally is driven to cause a package of cigarettes to be dispensed. However, if the arm 148 is for any reason stuck, then spring 484 permits relative movement between arm 134 and arm and pin 482 merely rides in the slot 480. Thus in this form of our machine, we provide lost motion rather than locking the operating part of the machine as is done in the form of our invention shown in FIGURE 3.

In the embodiment of our invention shown in FIGURE 10, we form the arm 148 integrally with a second arm 492 pivotally connected to the rod 186 of dashpot 188 by pin 184. A pin 494 pivotally mounts the drive link 3% on the arm 492. A pin 496 connects the end of link 360 remote from arm 492 to one arm 498 of a bell crank pivotally supported on a shaft 506; carried by panel 84. The other arm 582 of the bell crank carries a boss 584 formed with a pin-receiving recess 586. It will be seen that, when the machine operates, link 300 moves upwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 10, to rotate the bell crank including arrn 498 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 10.

Referring now to FIGURES 11 to 13, any suitable means, such as screws 588, secure push rods 518 to the selecting buttons 512 of this form of our invention. Each rod 518 is formed with an opening 513 and a tongue 514, which receives a drive spring 516. We provide respective sliding links 518 associated with the push rods 510. Links 518 have tongues 524} extending into slots 522 in the links to receive springs 516. Springs 524 extending between 1 1 tabs 526 on frame member 212 and lugs 528 on the links 518 normally urge the button assemblies to a position at which stops 536 on the links engage the frame 212. From the structure just described, it will be seen that, when a button 512 is actuated, spring 516 drives the link 518 against the action of the associated spring 524. Shoulders 532 on rods 510 limit the inward movement of the buttons.

Respective pins 534 carried by the links 518 pivotally support coupling links 536. We provide the coupling links 536 with hooks 538 for engaging ofiset lugs 540 carried by the respective selecting push bars 288. When a button is actuated to cause the associated link 518 to move to the right, as viewed in FIGURES 11 to 13, the coupling link 536 moves to the broken line position shown in FIGURE 13 to actuate its associated bar 208.

As is the case with the form of our invention shown in FIGURES 1 to 9, this form of our invention includes the slide 264 for latching an actuated rod 208 in position. We also provide this form of our invention with the disks 250 which prevent concomitant operation of more than a single one of the push buttons. In this form of our invention, however, rather than locking an actuated push button in the position to which it has been moved, we uncouple all the links 536 upon operation of the delivery handle 32. Respective rivets 542 and 544 ride in slots 546 and 548 formed in a coupling link released slide 550. A shaft 552, extending across the width of the machine, pivotally supports a coupling link actuating flap 554. A shaft 556 carried by the flap 554 supports a roller 558 which is disposed in a slot 560 formed in an inner leg 562 of the U-shaped slide 550. The other leg 564 of slide 550 carries a pin 566 disposed in the recess 506 formed by the boss 504 in hell crank arm 502.

It will be seen that in response to the operation of a push button 512 spring 516 drives link 518 to cause the coupling link 536 to drive its associated selecting push bar. As the bar moves, its lug 288 rides behind one or" the hooks 286 formed in slide 264. Thus the bar is latched in place. When the handle 32 is operated, bar 380 moves upwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 10, to rotate bell crank arm 502 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 12. When this occurs, slide 550 moves to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 12; and slot 560 actuates roller 588 to pivot the uncoupling flap 554 in a counterclockwise direction. In the course of this movement, the fiapengages depending arms 568 formed on the links 536 to pivot all the links including the actuated link in a counterclockwise direction to uncouple all of the push rods 208 from their associated push buttons. As a result of this operation, the selected push button spring back to its initial position under the action of spring 524; and for the remainder of the operation, the dispensing mechanism is entirely free of the push buttons.

Upon further movement of the slide 550, as the dispensing operation proceeds, a cam surface 570 on the slide 550 engages a roller 572 supported on slide 264 by a pin 574. In this manner the slide 264 is moved upwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 11, to release the selected push bar 208 to permit it to return to its initial position under the action of spring 209. It will be remembered that at this time links 536 remain in their uncoupled positions to permit the lug 540 to return to its position under the hook 538. When the handle 32 is released, flap 554 releases all the coupling links to permit hooks 538 to reengage lugs 540 and the machine is ready for its next operation.

In operation of our machine, a customer first deposits in the machine a sum in coins aggregating at least the purchase price of the desired article. When this occurs, pin 196 is freed in a manner known to the art. In order to make his selection, a customer actuates a button 24 to actuate a lifter 228 or 244 to raise the associated pusher to a position at which it may enter into a front or a rear container of the machine. The customer is permitted to change his selection at any time before the actual dispensing operation begins. When a button is operated, the locking plate 264 is actuated to move a hook 286 behind the lug 288 on the bar 208 to retain the selected pusher in its operative position. After the selection has been made, the customer pulls handle 32 to rotate lever 26 to move arm to pull link 152 upwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 3, to rotate the crank plate to swing carriages 94 and 104 first forwardly and then rearwardly of the machine. In the course of this movement of the carriages, the selected pusher moves an article out of its associated container to the delivery tray 36.

In the form of our invention shown in FIGURES 1 to 9, operation of the handle 32 causes the link 274 to lock slide 264 during the initial part of its movement and to release the slide upon further movement. In the form of our invent-ion shown in FIGURES 10 to 13, flap 554 is actuated during the initial portion of the movement of handle 32 to release all the coupling links 536. Upon further movement of the handle slide 550 releases the locking slide. 'It will be appreciated that the uncoupling of the button assemblies from the selecting mechanism in the form of our invention shown in FIGURES 10 to 13 prevents manipulation of the buttons from having any effect at all on the machine once the delivery operation has been initiated.

In response to the operation of a vend flap 312 or 318, the bell crank including arm 334 is operated to move stop 354 to permit connecting link 366 to drop to a position at which it couples pin 358 to bar 356. When bar 356 is moved by pin 358 through the connecting link, stop 374 operates pin 378 to accept the money and to reset the register. At the same time, pawl 382 engages a pin 388 to operate the match dispensing mechanism to deliver a packet of matches.

In the form of our invention shown in FIGURES l to 9, if the operating mechanism is stuck for any reason so that arm 140 cannot pivot, link 172 moves to a position at which a tooth 178 engages stop 180 to lock the operating mechanism without danger of injury to the parts of the dispensing mechanism. In the form of our invention shown in FIGURE 10, if arm 140 cannot pivot, spring 484 permits relative movement between arm 134 and arm 140 to prevent injury to any of the operating parts of Y the machine.

If the supply of articles of merchandise desired is exhausted, no vend flap is operated and pin 358 moves in slots 362 and 368 to cam lever 402 about its pivot 404 to move the empty signal flap to a position in view of a customer.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a merchandising machine for dispensing a large number of packages of cigarettes of various types and brands. We efiiciently utilize the available cabinet space to provide a large capacity. Our dispensing mechanism is arranged to provide a low machine which can be installed in many locations which are not avialable to high machines of the prior art. Our machine is completely manual in operation so that it can be installed in locations in which electrical power is not available.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a columnar container for holding a supply of articles of merchandise, a carriage, means mounting said carriage for movement adjacent said container, an article ejector, means mounting said ejector on said carriage for movement from a normally inoperative position to an operative position at which it may eject an article from said container, a first manually operable linkage for moving said ejector to operative position, a second manually operable linkage for moving said carriage to dispense an article of merchandise from said container, a match delivery mechanism, a bar adapted to be moved to actuate said match delivery mechanism to deliver a packet of matches, normally inoperative means for coupling said bar to said second manually operable linkage and means responsive to the movement of an article out of its container for actuating said coupling means to cause said bar to deliver a packet.

2. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a columnar container for holding a supply of articles of merchandise, a carriage, means mounting said carriage for movement adjacent said container, an article ejector, means mounting said ejector on said carriage for movement from a normally inoperative position to an operative position at which it may eject an article from said container, a first manually operable linkage for moving said ejector to operative position, a second manually operable linkage for moving said carriage to dispense an article of merchandise from said container, a match delivery mechanism, a bar adapted to be moved to actuate said match delivery mechanism, to deliver a packet of matches, a coupling link carried by said match mechanism actuating bar, means carried by said second manually operable linkage adapted to be engaged by said coupling link, means normally supporting said coupling link in a position out of engagement with the means adapted to be engaged thereby, a vend flap adapted to be actuated by an article moving out of said container and means responsive to an actuation of said vend flap for moving said coupling link to engage the means adapted to be engaged thereby.

3. A merchandising machine as in claim 2 including means responsive to the operation of said second manually operable linkage for informing a customer that the supply of articles in the container is exhausted.

4. A merchandising machine as in claim 2 including an empty signal actuating arm carried by said match dispenser actuating bar, an empty signal operating arm adapted to be actuated by said actuating arm and means responsive to the relative movement between said match mechanism actuating bar and said second manually operable linkage for operating said empty signal actuating arm.

5. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a housing having a delivery opening, a columnar container for holding a supply of said articles of merchandise, means mounting said container within said housing, a carriage, means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said container, an article ejector, means mounting said ejector on said carriage for movement from a normally inoperative position to an operative position at which it can eject an article from said container toward said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, a first mechanical linkage disposed Within said housing and comprising a first manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated by a user for moving said ejector to saidoperative position and a second mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a second manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be actuated by a user subsequent to actuation of said first manually actuatable member for moving said carriage to cause said ejector to dispense an article of merchandise through said delivery opening.

6. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a housing having a delivery opening, a columnar container for holding a supply of said-articles of merchandise, means mounting said container Within said housing, a carriage, means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said container, an article ejector, means mounting said ejector on said carriage for movement from a normally inoperative position to an operative position at which it can eject an article from said container toward said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, a first mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a first manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated by a user for moving said ejector to said operative position, a second mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a second manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be actuated by a user subsequent to actuation of said first manually actuatable member for moving said carriage to cause said ejector to dispense an article of merchandise through said delivery opening, and means responsive to operation of said first mechanical linkage for supporting articles above the lowermost article in said container.

7. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a housing having a delivery opening, a columnar container for holding a supply of said articles of merchandise, means mounting said container within said housing, a carriage, means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said container, an article ejector, means mounting said ejector on said carriage for movement from a normally inoperative position to an operative position at which it can eject an article from said container toward said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, a first mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a first manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated by a user for moving said ejector to said operative position, a second mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a second manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be actuated by a user subsequent to actuation of said first manually actuatable member for moving said carriage to cause said ejector to dispense an article of merchandise through said delivery opening, means responsive to operation of the first mechanical linkage for locking said ejector in its operative position, and means responsive to operation of said second mechanical linkage for releasing said locking means.

8. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a housing having a delivery opening, a columnar container for holding a supply of said articles of merchandise, means mounting said container within said housing, a carriage, means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said container, an article ejector, means mounting said ejector on said carriage for movement from a normally inoperative position to an operative position at Which it can eject an article from said container toward said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, a first mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a first manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated by a user for moving said ejector to said operative position, a second mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a second manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be actuated by a user subsequent to actuation of said first manually actuatable member for moving said carriage to cause said ejector to dispense an article of merchandise through said delivery opening, means responsive to operation of the first mechanical linkage for locking said ejector in its operative position, and means responsive to operation of said second mechanical linkage for releasing said locking means, said first mechanical linkage comprising a sliding bar formed with a lug and means for moving said bar, said locking means comprising a sliding locking plate formed with a detent and means normally urging said plate to a position to which said detent is in the path of said lug whereby said lug cams said plate to move behind said detent against the action of the said urging means.

9. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a housing having a delivery opening, a columnar container for holding a supply of said articles of merchandise, means mounting said container within said housing, a carriage, means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said container, an article ejector, means mounting said ejector on said carriage for movement from a normally inoperative position to an operative position at which it can eject an article from said container toward said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, a first mechanical linkage disposed Within said housing and comprising a first manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated by a user for moving said ejector to said operative position, a second mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a second manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be actuated by a user subsequent to actuation of said first manually actuatable member for moving said carriage to cause said ejector to dispense an article of merchandise through said delivery opening, means responsive to operation of the first mechanical linkage for locking said ejector in its operative position, and means responsive to operation of said second mechanical linkage for releasing said locking means, said first mechanical linkage including a sliding bar formed with a lug and means for moving said bar, said locking means including a sliding locking plate formed with a hook and means normally urging said plate to a position at which said hook is in the path of said lug whereby said lug cams said plate to move behind said hook against the action of said urging means, said means responsive to operation of the second mechanical linkage comprising locking plate releasing means, means responsive to the operation of said second mechanical linkage for moving said releasing means, and means responsive to movement of said releasing means for moving said locking plate to release said bar.

10. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a housing having a delivery opening, a plurality of columnar containers for holding supplies of articles of merchandise, means mounting said containers Within said housing, a carriage, means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said containers, a plurality of ejectors respectively associated with said containers, means mounting said ejectors on said carriage for selective movement from normally inoperative positions to operative positions at which they can eject articles from their associated containers toward said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, a plurality of first mechanical linkages disposed within said housing and each comprising a respective first manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated selectively by a user for moving an ejector to its operative position and a common mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a second manually actuatable member extended to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be actuated by a user subsequent to actuation of one of said first manually actuatable members for moving said carriage to cause the selected ejector to dispense an article of merchandise through said delivery opening.

11. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a housing having a delivery opening, a plurality of columnar containers for holding supplies of articles of merchandise, means mounting said containers within said housing, a carriage, means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said containers, a plurality of ejectors respectively associated with said containers, means mounting said ejectors on said carriage for selective movement from normally inoperative positions to operative positions to which they can eject articles from their associated containers toward said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, a plurality of first mechanical linkages disposed within said housing and each comprising a respective first manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated selectively by a user for moving an ejector to its operative position and a common mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a second manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be actuated by a user subsequent to actuation of one of said first manually actuatable members for moving said carriage to cause the selected ejector to dispense an article of merchandise through said delivery opening, each of said first mechanical linkages comprising a moveable member, first means responsive to movement of said member for retaining a selected ejector in operative position, second means responsive to movement of said moveable member for preventing concomitant operation of more than a single first linkage and means responsive to its subsequent operation of another first linkage for releasing said retaining means.

12. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination housing having a delivery opening, a columnar container for holding a supply of said articles of merchandise, means mounting said container Within said housing, a carriage, means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said container, an article ejector, means mounting said ejector on said carriage for movement from a normally inoperative position to an operative position at which it can eject an article from said container toward said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, a first mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a first manually actutable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated by a user for moving said ejector to said operative position, a second mechanical linkage disposed Within said housing and comprising a second manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be actuated by a user subsequent to actuation of said first manually actuatable member for moving said carriage to cause said ejector to dispense an article of merchandise though said delivery opening, said second mechanical linkage comprising a resilient connection between said second manually actuatable member and said carriage.

13. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a housing for a delivery opening, a columnar container for holding a supply of said articles of merchandise, means mounting said container within said housing, a carriage, means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said container, an article ejector, means mounting said ejector on said carriage for movement from a normally inoperative position to an operative position at which it can eject an article from said container towards said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, a first mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a first manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated by a user for moving said ejector to said operative position and a second mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising an arm for driving said carriage to dispense an article, a manually actuatable member extending to an 17 accessible location outside said housing, a resilient connection between said member and said arm, means for locking said manually actuatable member against movement in response to relative movement when said arm is restrained against movement upon actuation of said member.

14. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise incuding in combination a housing having a delivery opening, a columnar container for holding a supply of said articles of merchandise, means mounting said container Within said housing, a carriage, means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said container, an article ejector, means mounting said ejector on said carriage for movement from a normally inoperative position to an operative position at which it can eject an article from said container toward said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, a first mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a first manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated by a user for moving said ejector to said operative position, a second mechanical linkage disposed Within said housing and comprising an arm for driving said carriage to dispense an article through said delivery opening, a second manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be actuated by a user subsequent to actuation of said first manually actuatable member, a link adapted to provide a connection between said second manually actuatable member and said arm, means normally urging said link to a position at which it provides a driving connection between said second manually actuatable member and said arm and means for permitting relative movement between said second manually actuatable member and said arm when said arm is restrained against movement.

15. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a housing having a delivery opening, a columnar container for holding a supply of articles of merchandise, means mounting said container within said housing, a carriage, means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said container, an article ejector, means mounting said ejector on said carriage for movement from a normally inoperative position to an operative position at which it can eject an article from said container towards said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, means adapted to be operated to move said ejector to its operative position, a first mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a first manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated by a user, means normally coupling said first mechanical linkage to said means for moving said ejector to its operative position, a second mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a second manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be actuated by a user subsequent to actuation of said first manually actuatable member for moving said carriage to cause said ejector to dispense an article of merchandise through said delivery opening and means responsive to operation of said mechanical linkage for disengaging coupling means.

16. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a housing having a delivery opening, a plurality of columnar containers for holding supplies of articles of merchandise, means mounting said containers within said housing, a carriage,

means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said container, a plurality of article ejectors respectively associated with said containers, means mounting said ejectors on said carriage for movement from normally inoperative positions to operative positions at which they can eject articles from their associated containers toward said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, respective means adapted to be actuated to move said ejectors to their operative positions, respective first mechanical linkages disposed within said housing and each comprising a respective first manually actuatable member extended to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated by a user, respective means coupling said ejector moving means to said first mechanical linkages, a second mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a second manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be actuated by a user subsequent to actuation of one of said first manually actuatable members for moving said carriage to cause a selected ejector to dispense an article of merchandise through said delivery opening, and means responsive to operation of said second linkage for disengaging said coupling means.

17. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a housing having a delivery opening, a plurality of columnar containers for holding supplies of articles of merchandise, means mounting said containers within said housing, a carriage, means mounting said carriage within said housing for movement relative to said container, a plurality of article ejectors respectively associated with said containers, means mounting said ejectors on said carriage for movement from normally inoperative positions to operative positions at Which they can eject articles from their associated containers toward said delivery opening upon movement of said carriage, respective means adapted to be actuated to move said ejectors to their operative positions, respective first mechanical linkages disposed within said housing and each comprising a respective first manually actuatable member extended to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be operated by a user, respective means coupling said ejector moving means to said first mechanical linkages, a second mechanical linkage disposed within said housing and comprising a second manually actuatable member extending to an accessible location outside said housing and adapted to be actuated by a user subsequent to actuation of one of said first manually actuatable members for moving said carriage to cause a selected ejector to dispense an article of merchandise through said delivery opening, means responsive to operation of said second linkage for disengaging said coupling means, and means for locking a selected ejector moving means in its operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,399,612 Auerbach May 7, 1946 2,575,129 Rubenstein Nov. 13, 1951 2,593,102 Caruso Apr. 15, 1952 2,623,801 Smith et al. Dec. 30, 1952 2,643,929 Keefe June 30, 1953 2,693,299 Gross Nov. 2, 1954 2,784,871 Gabrielsen Mar. 12, 1957 2,834,512 Fry May 13, 1958 2,888,168 Gabrielsen et al. May 26, 1959 

